CDP affirms that the objective of a good economic policy is to produce an environment of stability and economic growth for the welfare of the Australian people.

Good economic policy should reward entrepreneurs and businesses for the financial risks and the initiative they take. At the same time, governments should use economic policy to protect the vulnerable and disadvantaged without creating a people’s welfare mentality.

CDP supports a broader definition of the Gross National Product to include the value-added contribution of volunteerism and corporate philanthropy as well as unpaid household work.

CDP supports work-for-the-dole programs.

CDP believes that the two arms of economic policy, monetary intervention (interest rates) and fiscal management (taxes) should be used in a coordinated way to achieve stability and economic growth.

CDP believes that in general, governments should try to produce balanced budgets but it acknowledges that at times, for a short period, it may be necessary to increase economic activity through deficit budgeting. However, wherever possible, preference should be given to taxation and regulation reform (minimising red tape) if government intervention is required to boost up economic activity.

CDP is opposed to governments producing surplus budgets for the sake of building up an election “war chest”.

CDP supports the concept of a “Future Fund” to finance superannuation payouts for the public sector.

CDP also supports the concept of an “Endowment Fund” to finance the research and infrastructure requirements of our Australian Universities.

CDP does not support active government involvement in the provision of commercial goods and services but affirms that where private enterprise cannot adequately perform certain services, the government has a duty to intervene. In particular, the government may need to intervene in the provision of hospitals, prisons, and essential communication services, and in country areas and remote regions. Special taxation incentives and low interest rate borrowing schemes for these communities are options that could be considered to encourage private enterprise involvement.

CDP believes that where the government engages private enterprises or where public funds are used to assist the private sector, community groups or associations, the recipients must be made to comply with a public code of corporate governance which clearly specifies social obligations for employment practices, executive salary restraint and rights of shareholders in corporate decision making. Corporate governance must be brought into line with public expectations and interests.

Although no country can afford to isolate itself in the matters of international trade, CDP believes that economic globalisation presents a number of challenges to Australia which must be addressed by the Federal Government and that a degree of protectionism is often warranted.

CDP believes that where these industries employ a significant workforce, the government has a duty to ensure that they are not decimated through cheap imports of similar goods or services, dumping or other unfair trade practices.

CDP supports free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries of similar economic status to Australia. CDP does not support FTAs between Australia and developing nations with a much cheaper labor force as this invariably creates unemployment in some sectors of the Australian workforce.

CDP supports government procurement policies that reasonably favour Australian products and services.

CDP supports the continuation of EFIC as a government agency to financially assist Australian exporters.

CDP opposes the full deregulation of retail trading hours and believes there should be no trading on Sundays, to allow time for worship and recreation.